Atheist United Church Minister got to keep her job

[cmleung]

Is it just me or does it make no sense at all? I think I can understand the court and settlement decision in terms of employer employee relationship, but I am not understanding her theology whatsoever. Am I missing something?

Atheist United Church minister to keep her job at Toronto congregation

 

[TuxAme]

I shouldn't have to believe in "medicine" to be a doctor. It's enough for me to appreciate what doctors who did believe in "medicine" have done for me in the past to secure a position in the field.

 

[MariaJLM]

As a fellow Canadian I can tell you that the United Church is an utter joke. They don't even seem to have any actual theology beyond "we accept gay people because the other bigoted churches won't".

 

[Sistrin]

I shouldn't have to believe in "medicine" to be a doctor. It's enough for me to appreciate what doctors who did believe in "medicine" have done for me in the past to secure a position in the field.

The existence of medicine is quantifiable. The existence of God is a matter of faith. The two are not comparable in the context you claim.

As a fellow Canadian I can tell you that the United Church is an utter joke. They don't even seem to have any actual theology beyond "we accept gay people because the other bigoted churches won't".

Sounds like Lutherans.

 

[HTacianas]

Is it just me or does it make no sense at all? I think I can unfortunately the court ruling, but I am not understanding her theology whatsoever. Am I missing something?

Atheist United Church minister to keep her job at Toronto congregation

"The dance between these core values, how they interact with and inform each other, is one that we continue to explore as followers of Jesus and children of the creator,” he said"

I'm glad there's no "dancing" in Orthodoxy.

For those of you who don't know, there is a ceremony in the Orthodox Church that is followed when a priest, bishop, etc., is laicized. He stands in front of an ecclesiastical court, holding the gospel. It is literally yanked from his hands.

The Church does not dance.

 

[TuxAme]

The existence of medicine is quantifiable. The existence of God is a matter of faith. The two are not comparable in the context you claim.

 

[Sistrin]

This is supposed to mean something?

 

[MariaJLM]

Sounds like Lutherans.

To be fair, Lutherans do have theology. The high church ones at least.

 

[jsimms615]

Looks like this happened in 2016. I would be curious about how things are going now?

 

[fat wee robin]

I shouldn't have to believe in "medicine" to be a doctor. It's enough for me to appreciate what doctors who did believe in "medicine" have done for me in the past to secure a position in the field.

Sowing confusion is a great sin !!

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

We have to tolerate anything and everything now days. No lines can be drawn, no limits are imposed.

I do wonder at the future of liberal Protestantism if even their leaders don't believe what they are supposed to stand for.

 

[mark kennedy]

Is it just me or does it make no sense at all? I think I can unfortunately the court ruling, but I am not understanding her theology whatsoever. Am I missing something?

Atheist United Church minister to keep her job at Toronto congregation

No, you don't have to believe in God to be a professional clergy. A minister of the gospel is another story.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The existence of medicine is quantifiable. The existence of God is a matter of faith. The two are not comparable in the context you claim.



Sounds like Lutherans.

They sound like Unitarians to me, but I could be wrong.

What We Believe

 

[section9+1]

.

 

[St_Worm2]

I do wonder at the future of liberal Protestantism if even their leaders don't believe what they are supposed to stand for.

That thought reminds me of this short article from the Bee (a group that produces religious satire that often hits a little to close to the mark to be funny, but this one is ).

Liberal Christian Attempts To Debate Atheist,
But They Just Agree On Everything
November 27th, 2017

SHERWOOD, OR—Local progressive believer Danielle Mason reportedly attempted to debate atheist Lucas Peterson on the various ideas including the existence of God at a local coffee shop Sunday evening, but ended up agreeing with him on every point.

The two were surprised to find themselves in agreement on the inspiration of Scripture, the relevance of divine revelation, errors in the Bible, the creation account, and the exclusivity of Christ, among dozens of additional topics, sources confirmed.

“I don’t believe in God,” the atheist began before laying out his case for the lack of any real deity as the progressive believer nodded in agreement the whole time.

“I guess I don’t believe in God either, at least not in any concrete way,” Mason said pensively during her allotted 15-minute response time. “At least, I don’t think I do. What does it all even mean, anyway?”

At one point, Mason attempted to argue for the need for biblical morality in the present age, but realized she didn’t believe in that either and backed off.

At publishing time, Mason had realized she was just an atheist who liked the church’s social programs and sense of belonging, “just like Jesus was.”


Liberal Christian Attempts To Debate Atheist But They Just Agree On Everything

 

[Radagast]

Looks like this happened in 2016. I would be curious about how things are going now?

AFAIK, the decision to leave her as a "minister" was only this month.

 

[Radagast]

I shouldn't have to believe in "medicine" to be a doctor.

Did you just defend the proposition that priests can be atheists?

 

[Radagast]

No, you don't have to believe in God to be a professional clergy.

You do in a Christian church.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I shouldn't have to believe in "medicine" to be a doctor. It's enough for me to appreciate what doctors who did believe in "medicine" have done for me in the past to secure a position in the field.

We have people like that...they're called homeopaths and chiropractors lol.
(minus the appreciating what real doctors do, of course)

 

[ThatRobGuy]

At the end of the day, can't each church decide what their own requirements are?

If you're going to tell one group "your 100% opinion-based philosophical meetings qualifies for tax exemption", not sure how you could deny that to someone else.